Radial Tyres 1973

The seventies were a great time in the tyre trade. Hence, because all the tyre companies were trying to develop a perfect radial tyre. Including, Pirelli tyres from then Italy, now China. Of course, the problem was the steel belted radial tyres. Michelin were then as now the market leaders. Especially, in the American car market.

America, had a different problem to us. Accordingly, the American tyre market was then ruled by X-ply and then Bias-belted tyres. These tyres were developed for the huge gas guzzling American cars. Europe were moving over to radial tyres. Radial tyres offered a high mileage, but not on these large cars with there heavy suspension. Radial tyres did not handle very well when fitted to these huge vehicles. The public wanted the radial tyres. Because, they offered much better value for money. The bias-belted tyres would wear out very quickly. So radial tyres had to be used.

As far as I know, Henry Ford redeveloped their cars suspension and started to fit radials to some of their new models. Radials would eventually become more popular and eventually take over completely x ply tyres and bias-belted.